Original Grinds

Original Grinds is an indie, plant-based coffee shop and sober venue on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg, doubling as a vegan bakery, small art gallery and community stage. It has quickly become one of the few alcohol-free spaces in town built specifically around live performance.

Open Mic Wednesdays

Every Wednesday night the shop clears floor space for Open Mic Wednesdays, a free, all-ages show that welcomes acoustic singer-songwriters, hip hop artists, poets and anything in between. Sign-ups open at 7:00 PM with the show starting at 7:30 PM, and sets typically run about 10 minutes, though the night has been known to stretch past 10:00 PM “if the talent is flowin.”

Other Events

Original Grinds also hosts Breaking Lines, a recurring poetry and spoken word night, along with rotating art shows from local painters. Because the shop is sober and coffee-forward, it draws a noticeably younger and more all-ages crowd than the bar-based open mics elsewhere downtown.

Good to Know

Original Grinds is located at 615 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA, a short walk from the Rappahannock riverfront. Purchasing a drink or food item is appreciated to support the free weekly show.